The Advocate, Issue 19 - March 1, 2019

Volume 53, Issue 19 MARCH 1, 2019 advocate-online.net

MHCC Board meeting gains a crowd PAGE 3

TEDx speaker shares story at MHCC PAGE 7

Compassion in funeral services PAGE 7

ALL EYES ON "THE MUSIC MAN" PAGE 5

FOLLOW US ON SPOTIFY SCAN FOR PLAYLIST

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Student-centered, open concept HUB layout coming

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2016 FIRST PLACE

General excellence Oregon Newspaper Publisher Association

NEWS

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

SUBMISSION: RESPONSE TO EDITORIAL

MORE SURVEY RESPONSES

REGARDING FOOD ON CAMPUS Response to the Feb. 8 editorial, “Food options on campus could better serve students.”

College students do deserve good, quality options for the food choices.

Here at Riverview Café and Barista, we are striving to provide food services that the community desires and are also healthy and affordable. According to your end line, your “editorial is designed to explore issues that affect the community.” Perhaps the collective voices could have inquired of the business managers of the food places in your editorial in order to have all the facts.

Fact #1: Food Preferences We at Riverview are very conscious of the fact that many people on campus have unique food preferences, either due to health concerns or choice. If you actually look at our menu items you will discover that over half of our menu items are gluten free if you elect for gluten-free bread options, which we gladly offer. Over 40 percent of our offerings are vegetarian. Whenever possible, we prepare items vegetarian/ vegan. An example is we use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock in soups and other dishes that we make from scratch, not just open a can or thaw a frozen, over-processed food. In our efforts to provide variety, we have tried some new vegetarian and vegan items; however, we do not sell enough and end up throwing out much of the food. It is unfortunate that most of the vegetable based “meats” cost on average three times that of their meat counterpart. This makes it very difficult to keep costs down, which again leads to wasted food.

Fact #2: Affordable prices Since the middle of the Fall Term,

we have lowered our prices on over half of our items and started a value menu with items between $1 and $2. We work hard to lower our costs by making many of our menu items from scratch instead of buying highcost, highly processed foods. We also negotiate lower prices on our ingredients so that we can keep the cost of our product as low as possible.

It is hard to compare a fast food burger that is one-quarter pound of poor quality, high fat beef compared to our one-third pound, 80 percent lean beef.

As stated above, MHCC students and staff deserve high-quality food.

Fact #3: Hours We started serving hot foods at the Barista, two months ago, which is open until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, so hot foods are currently available later than reported. We at Riverview do wish to meet the needs of our patrons and will be looking into the feasibility of adding more hours to the Café as long as it is cost-effective.

According to your survey, 70 percent indicated their need for food between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m., which comes close to our hours of 8 a.m.-2 p.m. At this time, like any smart business, we must use what sells as a means to determine our menu offerings.

We are very open to any ideas that would help us provide the items that you wish to see here at Riverview. Any responses or ideas regarding food or hours of service may be sent to food. services@mhcc.edu. You may also stop in and talk with me in person. I would love to hear your ideas.

Sincerely, Steve Curtis, Manager and Chef of Riverview Café and Barista

Food on Campus Do you think food on campus could be improved? Why or Why not?

“Yes, I do think it could be improved because students need to eat a well balanced meal every day and also need to have (easy) access to food at any time of the day. For example, I have noticed that students who are taking evening classes don’t have access to balanced meals because the Vista Dining is not open. Thus, they grab dessert edibles from BlackRock.”

“Yes. Gluten and dairy free options, fresh fruit, nuts/seeds, and hard boiled eggs would be great choices available!”

“Yes, I do think the food options on campus could be improved because for one Riverview closes at 2 and that is not late enough in my opinion when we have students on campus until about 10 p.m.

Yes the café that Riverview has stays open longer but it does not (have) nearly as many options for people who have diets they like to stick to.”

“It would be perfect if there will be more vegan options available for salads, sandwiches, and snacks.”

“Offer something at night. There are several night classes, and it sucks taking the bus that late on an empty stomach.”

“Yes! I can’t afford the cafeteria this year, except for the value menu where the only vegetarian option is fries.”

“I think overall it’s good. If possible, cheaper prices would be nice. Or a way to link a food card with our school account to be billed in case students forget their wallet.”

“YES! As a vegetarian, I asked if I could order the vegetable stir fry with tofu or tempeh instead of beef/chicken/pork and was told NO. End of story. Vegetarians deserve to have a protein source too!”

“Yes because there aren’t many healthy options or vegan options for those on a limited budget. Most of the food is not appealing, if vegan, and greatly overpriced.”

“No. There are plenty of options, spaced out across the campus, and they are (for the most part) reasonably priced.”

“Bring in another vendor. Overall from most of the food choices I have experienced with this vendor, it is too salty or bland or obviously caloric. There is not enough truly healthy food besides the salads. The problem with the salads is there is no option to buy a smaller salad for a lower price. I used to go when I returned to campus Fall of 2017, but have slowly backed out of purchasing any food from the Vista Dining Room or the Riverview Café.”

Advisers

Dan Ernst Howard Buck

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE OF MHCC Editor-in-Chief Megan Phelps Associate Editor/ Photo Editor Fletcher Wold Associate Editor/ News Editor Cassie Wilson Assistant News Editor Chloe Collins Sports Editor Jonathan Zacarias PA G E 2

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Video Team Andy Carothers Drevsen Shadley Copy Editors Hannah Meisenhelder Positions Open Web Editors Positions Open Ad Manager Darcy Hitchcock Social Media Manager Position Open

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NEWS

MARCH 1, 2019

BOARD TALKS KMHD, TUITION, COMMUNICATION Cassie Wilson the advocate

The MHCC District Board of Education had a busy February talking about KMHD, the budget, state funding, and tution increases at its monthly meeting and one of its periodic retreats.

MONTHLY MEETING On Feb. 20, the board met for its monthly meeting, with a packed audience eager to give public input.

After the board’s vote last month to work on renegotiating the license management agreement between the college and Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) to transition MHCC’s FM radio station back to the college, many current listeners and community members had their concerns, which they brought directly to the board.

Attendees expressed deep satisfaction with how KMHD is currently programmed and formatted. They love sharing jazz music with their families, and are concerned that a move back to the college could negatively change one of the only dedicated jazz radio stations in the country, they said.

Each person speaking concluded with a plea for the board to reconsider its decision and keep KMHD at OPB, met by resounding applause from other community members present.

Overall, listeners said they are confused about why the college wants the station back, what its plan is to make it successful, and what will happen to the current KMHD employees and volunteers when the station returns to the college.

The board does not respond directly to public input, and KMHD was not on the meeting agenda, so

Photo by Cassie Wilson / the Advocate

The board had a full room with many community members who came to voice their concerns regarding the future of KMHD.

after speaking up, the crowd mostly emptied for the rest of the board session.

First on the agenda, the People Strategies Council presented results from 2018’s Mt. Hood employee satisfaction survey which had a 32 percent response rate, making it statistically significant. It included statements about the college, rated by employees for both importance and satisfaction.

Areas of focus centered on where something is of high importance, but of low employee satisfaction.

Themes found in these areas include internal campus communication and information sharing; processes with training and onboarding new employees; and in how the college plans things. The goal is to use the feedback to take action and create higher satisfaction in those areas.

Next, the board approved and signed an updated trust agreement with PACE, the college’s insurance provider.

Jennifer DeMent, MHCC budget director, led a brief update on where things are at with the Student Hub, and asked the board for approval to begin negotiations with contractors. She said the college currently has $173,000 from the MHCC Foundation, which will cover phases one and two of the project, but $275,000 will be needed to complete all four phases.

Contract negotiations will be based on the total amount needed, so all four phases will be completed, she said. This procurement was approved.

The last action item was a board resolution calling on the Oregon Legislature to increase funding for

community colleges. The resolution was put together by Mt. Hood President Lisa Skari, and approved unanimously. It will be shared with the Oregon Community Colleges Association and state legislators who represent the college’s district, and their legislative committees.

BOARD RETREAT On Feb. 23, the board met for a retreat at the Bruning Center campus near downtown Gresham to discuss plans related to the college’s 2019-20 operating budget, KMHD radio, communication protocols, and its evaluation of Skari, the firstyear president.

Shirlene Warnock and Gary Corbin led the budget discussion.

They worked with the board to narrow down their principles and parameters for developing a budget, and highlight the key message to give

On the cover: The cast of “The Music Man” performing during a weekend showing, with lead, Chandler Duncan playing Harold Hill in the center.

E-mail: advocatt@mhcc.edu Phone: 503-491-7250 Website: advocate-online.net Mt. Hood Community College Room 1369 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham OR 97030

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the budget managers. The pair will meet with 40 to 50 budget managers on March 1 to work on finding areas to make cuts and where to find new revenue to create a balanced budget.

The board worked to prioritize its budget concerns. Tied for No. 1 one was tuition and affordability for students, along with participation and enrollment. Other goals included putting a $10 percredit cap on a tuition increase (though the projected needed tuition increase to balance the budget is $12), expanding publicprivate partnerships, and letting go of programs with less student enrollment and benefit.

Board member Tamie Arnold said she believes a $10 per-credit increase is still too high, but likes the idea of a cap. Later, Skari had the board agree on a number members would be more comfortable with: the $7 to $8 range.

The board will see a proposed operating budget in April, based on the guidelines set at the retreat.

Next on the agenda, the board received updates on KMHD from Skari as put together by the KMHD Sustainable Operations Committee.

Prior to the retreat, that committee had three meetings to discuss how KMHD-FM could look under full MHCC District control.

The panel first examined what the station would look like if it returns to campus in August, if a new contract with OPB is not worked out. If KMHD does return in August, it will initially look like an enhanced version of the current (streaming) student station, KMHD2.

The Advocate encourages readers to share their opinion by letters to the editor and guest columns for publication. All submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name and contact information. Contact information will not be printed unless requested. Original copies will not be returned to the author. The Advocate will not print any unsigned submission. Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 600. The decision to publish is at the discretion of the editorial board. The Advocate reserves the right to edit for style, punctuation, grammar and length. Please bring submissions to The Advocate in Room 1369, or e-mail them to advocatt@mhcc.edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday the week of publication to be considered for print. Opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Advocate or MHCC.

Writer Omar Saradi has been writing all his life and finds passion in it. He likes writing about all of his favorite things: politics, music, culture and current events. He’s working towards a political science degree and hopes to find a career in writing and journalism. When he isn’t writing, studying or browsing the internet, he plays Super Smash Bros. – either with his co-workers or his friends – and he loses a lot.

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NEWS

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

MEET TOMO

STUDENT HUB UPDATES

Photo by Megan Phelps / the Advocate

by Chloe Collins

Photo by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate

MHCC administrators John Hamblin, Lauren Smith, and Matt Farina during the recent meeting on plans for the Student Hub.

Cassie Wilson Tomo Hatamata is an exchange student from Ryukoku University. He grew up on Saipan Island, a U.S. commonwealth in the western Pacific Ocean where he first began learning English. He is studying Intercultural Communications and hopes to be a business language translator. He enjoys cooking with his host dad, gaming on Playstation 4, and listening to EDM in his free time.

Cassie Wilson contributed reporting for this story.

Photo by Zarah Escutia / the Advocate

The Japanese Club hosted its annual Culture Day on Wednesday.

the advocate

On Feb. 21, a group of MHCC students, staff, and faculty led by John Hamblin, dean of student life, gathered to discuss plans for the future Student Hub. The Hub will become the centralized place to go for orientation, advising, financial aid, and accessible education services. It’s going to be located where Student Services are now, in Building 12 above the campus bookstore.

Upon entering, students will be in the Orientation Center, an open computer lab space where they will learn everything needed to get started at Mt. Hood. Financial Aid will be to the left, where the business offices are currently. Advising will remain where it is now, but with fewer cubicles. Accessible Education Services will remain where it is.

The idea is to create open-concept rooms where students feel welcome. Lauren Smith, AVID/Learning Success Center manager, said the project would be based on human-centered design. A lot of Mt. Hood students, unfortunately, now get bounced around different departments when they’re trying to get started, and are often told they’re in the wrong place or have the wrong forms, and it can be isolating and traumatizing.

She said Mt. Hood must break current systems down

to create equity and inclusion.

Matt Farina, director of academic advising and retention, said the current system has a lot of customer service issues and is a lot like going to the DMV (local Department of Motor Vehicles office). He wants to see that the students have the control and aren’t put off by an “authoritarian” service counter.

Hamblin shared similar thoughts: “Students are at the center. We have very rarely done things at this institution where students are truly at the center of the reason why we are doing it,” he said. “This is a design in a space that is 100 percent dedicated to putting students first and having everything center and focus on the students.”

Currently, the Hub team is working with Lauren Griswold, director of district communications, to plan the best ways to get word out to students. Once the college has a timeline of when renovations will take place, publicizing changes and progress will be crucial.

The team also wants the broader community to know what’s happening because it’s the first time something this significant in terms of MHCC renovations has happened since the Early Childhood Center was built, said Hamblin.

Farina said this sort of project could be what makes this college bond-worthy to the community. He said, “It’s a celebration of what’s possible,” in contrast to the constant doom and gloom in discussing Mt. Hood’s problematic operating budget.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

The committee is now beginning work on a strategic approach to bringing KMHD back in two years, the first choice of the District board. This includes how the station would be integrated academically and with the community.

Both scenarios include crucial equipment repairs and replacements to continue reliable operation.

Currently, the college’s radio transmitters are in ‘soft failure’ mode which means they’re operating at 80 percent of capacity. Taking care of the transmitter is something that has to happen even if KMHD were to stay at OPB. The KMHD committee is on track to provide a PA G E 4

recommendation to Skari by the end of Winter Term.

Next up for retreat discussion were protocols for board communications, specifically emails sent to board members.

Finally, Arnold led discussion, with board colleague Kenney Polson, about this year’s presidential evaluation at MHCC. The process should be more simplified and uniform by removing redundancies and gearing it towards SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely) goals.

Photo by Megan Phelps / the Advocate

Megan Phelps contributed reporting for this story.

The MHCC board mapping out priorities for the 2019-20 budget at its Feb. retreat.

NEWS

MARCH 1, 2019

“

EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT A FAN OF MUSICALS, ‘THE MUSIC MAN’ IS MORE THAN WORTH YOUR TIME.”

THE MAGIC OF MUSIC COMES TO MHCC Kurt Larson the advocate

catchy tunes played throughout in Mt. Hood’s College Theatre.

The first number is a perfect example of this.

Right off the bat, the beat of the song matches perfectly with the clattering, rolling motion of the

songs wouldn’t be half as enjoyable without the stellar performances of the MHCC cast.

Chandler Duncan does an incredible job playing the lead and really portrays the charisma of Hill, combining the tropes of

and intellectual equal, played flawlessly by Michaela George, who steals the show with her stunning vocal work.

As for the rest of the cast, they were all sublime. The effort spent perfecting their numerous lines and

Music is said to soothe the savage beast, and there is no beast greater than that of a stressed college student.

Thankfully for the students of MHCC, the theatre department is here to save the day with its current production of “The Music Man.” Based on the 1957 musical written and composed by Meredith Wilson, The Music Man is the story of traveling salesman Harold Hill, who visits the small town of River City, Iowa, in the summer of 1912.

As he travels across the country, Hill makes his living by conning locals into buying band instruments and uniforms for their children while posing as a boys’ band teacher.

This River City con isn’t just another easy swindle, however.

During his stay, Hill becomes entranced by the local librarian/ music instructor, Marian Paroo, and must choose between skipping town for fear of being found out, or Photos by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate finding true, small-town love.

Top: Chandler Duncan as Harold Hill and Michaela George as Marian Paroo lead the talented cast of “The Music Man.” As someone generally not a fan Above: Duncan captures the charisma of his character, whose efforts to con River City residents are derailed by romance. of musicals – tending to find them rather corny or simply cringeworthy, train in which the opening scene is auctioneers, square dance callers, musical numbers was obvious from especially when viewing shows in set, before transitioning seamlessly and backwoods preachers into one the beginning. Even the child actors the amateur circuit – I’m thrilled to into the easygoing, Midwestern captivating, musical performance. put on a worthy performance. say that I was pleasantly surprised rhythms of River City.

The other star, naturally, is that Of course, a musical is nothing by the excellent performances and Of course, those memorable of Marian Paroo, Hill’s love interest without its backing track.

The band accompaniment did a wonderful, professional job and kept the pace of the show moving, shifting easily between musical numbers, and overall providing an enjoyable experience that’s sure to leave you with half the track list stuck in your head.

As for the actual content of the play, however, there is perhaps something left to be desired in the writing.

Having been written in the late ’50s and taking place in the early 1900’s, there are definitely a few jokes and cultural references that will either go over the viewers’ heads, or simply miss their mark.

This is not to say that the experience isn’t enjoyable for those unfamiliar with the time period, as the soul of any musical are the songs and performances themselves.

Even if you’re not a fan of musicals, The Music Man is more than worth your time. There’s something for everyone, and I dare say that if you don’t enjoy a jaunty show tune every now and then, you are seriously missing out.

Thanks to show director Mace Archer and the rest of the amazing cast and crew who put this production together, you are sure to enjoy any of the remaining showings of The Music Man, at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, March 1-2, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 3.

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NEWS

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

NEWS BRIEFS

Megan Phelps the advocate

SOFTBALL

On Sunday (March 3) the Saints softball team will play twice against the Shoreline Community College Dolphins at home, starting at 11 a.m. and about 1 p.m. Due to inclement weather this will be the first game of the season for Mt. Hood.

INTERSECTIONALITY PANEL DISCUSSION

On Monday (March 4) from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Student Union, a panel of students and staff will discussing how their co-existing identities, or intersectionality, affect them and their experiences in society. The event is open to all; light refreshments will be provided.

CONSERVATION AWARENESS

On Monday, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the Student Union, experts from the City of Gresham will discuss waste and recycling. There will games and other presentations with a chance to win a prize.

MOCK FUNERAL EVENT

On Tuesday (March 5) from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Town & Gown room (above the Student Union), the Funeral Services Education program will host a Mock Funeral Arrangement event. Those interested in scheduling an appointment during the event (giving FSE students realistic customer experience)

can call or text Monica Wooster at (360) 980-0216 or email mhccmockarrangements19@gmail.com.

Drop-ins are also welcome. For more information, read our story on Page 6.

OER WEEK

Various events will take place on-campus and elsewhere to spread awareness of Open Educational Resources (OER). Visit the Student Union 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday-Thursday (March 5-6) to learn about low-cost and no-cost educational resources for students. For additional webinar faculty events, read the emailed MHCC News and Notes for Feb. 27.

PLANETARIUM SHOW

The Mt. Hood Planetarium will be hosting an event called “What did NASA Find at Pluto and Beyond?” on Tuesday (March 5) and Friday (March 8) with showings at 6 and 7:15 p.m. both nights.

Admission for MHCC students with a valid ID and children 17 and under is $2, and $5 for others.

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

In celebration of Women’s History Month, letters, photographs, film and other primary sources showcasing the history of women in the U.S. will be displayed in the Student Union. On Wednesday (March 6) there will be a free showing of the movie “Hidden Figures,” from noon to 2 p.m.

MUSIC EVENTS

The Jazz Ensemble and Symphonic Band Concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday (March 6) in the College Theatre. The MHCC voice students will have an open recital the same night, from 7 to 10 p.m., in the Student Union.

SCHOLARSHIP WORKSHOP

The MHCC Foundation will host a scholarship workshop on Thursday (March 7) from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Room 3333 computer lab. The workshop will provide step-by-step guidance through the MHCC scholarship application process, along with tips to writing application essays. To learn more, go to mhcc.edu/scholarships.

LGBTQ+ OPEN MIC

Performing Arts will host an Open Mic event in the Studio Theatre from 3 to 4:30 p.m. on Friday (March 8). For more information, contact Allison.

Moon@mhcc.edu.

SAINTS OPEN TRACK MEET

MHCC will host the Saints Open track and field meet on Saturday (March 9): Athletes from Mt. Hood, SWOCC, Multnomah University, Warner Pacific College, and Corban University will compete, along with a number of club and unattached athletes. The meet is free and open to the public; concessions are available. Field events start at 10 a.m. and running events start at 10:45 a.m. For more information go to mhcc.edu/Home-Meet-Info/.

NW ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL

SPORTS UPDATE

The Northwest Orchestra and Chamber Music Festival will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday (March 9) at various locations on campus. Orchestra and chamber ensembles from across the Pacific Northwest will perform. The festival is free and open to the public.

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Photo by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate

On Wednesday night the Saints basketball teams played their last home games of the season against the Clackamas Community College Cougars. The men were defeated 96-86, ending their season in the last game for Coach John Hawley as he steps into retirement. The women were edged out 74-73, but will advance to the NWAC Championship Tournament, which starts on Saturday, March 9, in Everett, Washington.

NEWS

MARCH 1, 2019

OVERCOMING RACIAL FEAR AND VICTIMIZATION Omar Saradi the advocate

Activist, spoken word poet, and viral internet personality Theo Wilson came to MHCC on Feb. 20 to speak on campus about a variety of topics: his life story, the current state of the country and being a black man in America.

All of it was fitting for Black History Month in February, but it was his introspective take on race that really drew the audience into his presentation, titled “Addressing Campus Hate Crimes.”

Wilson’s life story is something that many of his personal background can relate to. He grew up in Denver, Colorado, and told the audience about finding himself in the middle of conflicts between gangs and white nationalist groups. This led him to join the youth NAACP club (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People), where he became the public spokesperson.

When, as an adolescent, a major hate crime happened in his area, Wilson said he thought, “My skin is now a gang color my mom can’t shop me out of, and I had to consider what the world looked like (in order) to navigate violent white supremacy.”

He described encounters in his young adult life in Florida where he was either a witness to, or a victim of, racially motivated attacks. One of these was a personal encounter with the police that traumatized him and left him with a survivor’s guilt for other victims of police brutality that ended in death, he said.

Wilson re-capped his initial viral fame and the TED talk that brought his cause to the public: infiltrating online “alt-right” groups on YouTube and social media. He discussed the echo chambers of media – how all groups of people pay attention to things that self-affirm their world view – in this case, white nationalism.

He told the Mt. Hood audience of his epiphany

at the time: “Beneath all of this hatred there is something else at work, and that something else is fear.” This came from his observation of the people he saw in the alt-right, people who were just normal compared to their more extreme political beliefs: Their “fear” was rooted in being cast by society as a bad guy for simply being the race they were born as a form of racial guilt, he explained.

Wilson made the point that, in sum, all races have been traumatized by the past history of this country. This realization let him better understand and gave him a form of compassion that he wasn’t initially looking for, he said.

He closed out his Mt. Hood talk by reciting a poem he performed by heart, called “Impossible.”

The poem was a culmination of all the broader topics he had talked about, and his life experiences that brought him here. It touched on overcoming odds, history, race and religion, and was met with applause by audience members.

Wilson then took audience questions. A couple of significant ones were about on-campus hate crimes and how education handles “Black History.”

He said that a campus should have a culture that humanizes all people and teaches history the right way to prevent any form of hate, and create better understanding. Regarding black history, he said that it shouldn’t just be an elective course one can take in school and that more strides should be taken to incorporate it into the general curriculum: after all, black history is American history.

Wilson has his own YouTube channel where he discusses current events and issues.

He is a founding member of a slam poetry team, Slam Nuba, based in Denver, and is the executive director of an organization called Shop Talk Live where he uses the community barbershop as a platform to discuss issues. In 2017, he published his first book, “The Law of Action: Master Key to the Universe We Actually Live In,” following his media success.

Photo by Fletcher Wold / the Advocate

Theo Wilson, speaker, author, and poet, spoke at MHCC on Feb. 20 to address campus hate crimes and shared his past with students in honor of Black History Month.

MOCK FUNERALS OFFER VALUABLE INFORMATION Jennifer Salazar the advocate

Death and funerals are a difficult topic but many know it’s something that needs to be addressed. Mt. Hood’s Funeral Services Education program is helping the community by making this topic a little more easy to talk about.

On Tuesday, March 5, a Mock Funeral Arrangement event will be held at MHCC. The event, which runs from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Town & Gown Room (above the Student Union Fireplace Gallery), will let students, faculty, and community members preview funeral arrangement services.

Arranged by part-time instructor and program assistant Terri Makinson and the second-

year students in the Funeral Services Education program, the day allows those second-year students to act like funeral directors and practice their future career work with real families/individuals.

Guests can learn what goes into planning a funeral or service, as well as review options for transportation, cemetery arrangements, funeral and memorial products, any paperwork, and even review “green” funeral and burial options.

Walk-ins are welcomed but guests are encouraged to schedule an appointment for Tuesday, allowing the students to prepare for the number of people that may attend. Those interested may do so by emailing mhccmockarrangements19@gmail. com, or call/text Monica Wooster at

360-980-0216. Refreshments will be provided.

Makinson has helped to plan this same event for eight years now, with the help of the secondyear students. She says pursuing a career in funeral services can be very difficult academically, but even more difficult in an emotional way.

After comprehending the many topics a students needs in order to be a funeral director, Makinson said, “The one thing students really master is to become very compassionate. A lot of students don’t go into this program for money; most of them are actually here to serve others.”

Zoe Barton, second-year FSE student, has always been interested in what goes into planning a funeral.

She said attending a Mock Funeral

event is really important, especially if you have no idea of what to do in a situation of that kind.

“I feel like people don’t know all the options there are out there, like cremation, burials, and all the different pricings for everything,” Barton said. “Attending the Mock Funeral will give many people information they probably didn’t even think they needed.”

The FSE program is a restricted program, meaning there are only a certain number of spots available.

Second-year students have to pass the national board test to be able to graduate; passing the test will certify them nationally.

There are other hurdles for students, Makinson said.

“Many students may feel very challenged especially if they are

young or have not experienced what a funeral feels like, but I have seen many students learn that to take care of someone after they die is actually an honor,” Makinson said.

She pointed out the importance for community members who participate in the event, also.

“Even though it’s a difficult topic, we will all have to deal with a situation like this someday,” Makinson said. “The Mock Funeral can take (away) the negative stigma of death. The more someone can see this kind of event, the more information they can have, and at the end... information is power.”

She said she’s noticed over the years that a lot of Mock Funeral visitors have walked out feeling positive, after all the information they received.

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